Need food? Just ring us
No referral. No forms. No questions you don't want to answer.
If you live on Alston Moor and you are short of food, we will help – usually the same day or the next.
What happens when you call
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1
You ring 01434 647247
We answer whenever we can. If nobody picks up, please leave your name and a phone number – your message is safe with us and we will not ignore it. If you would rather not phone, you can email the office or use the form on the Office page instead.
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2
One of our Trustees rings you back
Your first call is passed straight to the Trustees, and one of them will phone you. It is a friendly chat, not an interview. They will ask what you need and where you would like the parcel delivered. That is all.
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We put your parcel together
Your parcel is made up for you and your household – not a standard box. Tell us about children, dietary needs, allergies, or if you only have a kettle or a microwave to cook with, and we will choose food that suits.
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4
We deliver it – usually the same day or the next
A volunteer brings your parcel to wherever you have asked for it – we deliver anywhere on Alston Moor – at a time that suits you. There is nothing to sign and nothing to pay.
Delivered in confidence
Nobody needs to know you have had a parcel from us. Our volunteers are discreet, and the delivery does not have to come to your front door. Tell us any place that feels more private – a friend's or relative's house, your car, a quiet spot anywhere on Alston Moor, somewhere on your way home from work – and we will bring it there.
Who can ask
Anyone living on Alston Moor. You do not need to be referred by a doctor, a school or a council, and you do not have to prove anything. If you are finding it hard to put food on the table this week – for whatever reason – that is reason enough.
What's in a parcel
Everyday basics bought locally from the Spar, the Co-op and Wholefoods in Alston: things like bread, milk, eggs, tins, pasta, rice, fruit and vegetables, tea and coffee. We tailor it to your household and try to include the things you actually eat.
You can ask again
One parcel is not a one-off. If things are still difficult next week, or next month, ring us again. Nobody keeps a tally, and nobody will make you feel awkward about it. We would much rather you called than went without.
Help with more than food
Being short of food is often the sign of something else – a bill that can't be paid, a benefit that has stopped, a job that has gone. When we speak to you we can point you towards people who can help with that too: debt and benefits advice, help with heating costs, and local charities that can lend a hand. Have a look at our Support and Resources pages, and if you are managing now but worried about the months ahead, don't wait – the earlier you ask, the more can be done.
